A Capping And De-Capping Apparatus And A Method Of Operating Such An Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A capping and de-capping apparatus ( 100 ) for capping and de-capping tubes ( 112 ) disposed in a tube holding rack ( 111 ) having a two-dimensional array of apertures ( 114 ) for holding the tubes ( 112 ). The apparatus ( 100 ) comprises a rack support ( 110 ) for supporting the tube holding rack ( 111 ), a head unit ( 120 ) adapted for carrying a cartridge ( 152 ) comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper ( 122 ), a drive system ( 130 ) for moving the rack support ( 110 ) and the head unit ( 120 ) relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper ( 122 ) with or from a cap ( 113 ) of at least one tube ( 112 ), and a drive system ( 140 ) for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper ( 122 ), wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap ( 113 ) to the tube ( 112 ) and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap ( 113 ) from said tube ( 112 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for capping and de-capping tubesand also a method of using such an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

High value biological samples are often stored and processed usingso-called SBS format racks containing a plurality of test tubes. Suchracks may contain, for example, 96 test tubes in an array of 8 by 12apertures designed to hold the tubes securely. The test tubes and theircontents may be maneuvered in a processing system, for example between acold store and various processing stations and may be required to befilled (partly or fully) or processed simultaneously or individually.

Conventionally, capping and de-capping has either been carried out byhand or else by means of a capping and de-capping unit one test tube ata time, either while they are still held in the rack or after they havebeen separated from the rack. This is not only tedious (particularly inthe case of manual capping and de-capping), but also slow as it is usualfor multiple tubes to require processing in the same way at the sametime. It is known to provide a linear array of capping and de-cappingunits to allow for the capping and de-capping of a row of tubes, butsuch systems have been bulky as a result of the dimensions of the drivesystems for the capping and de-capping units, the close spacing of thetest tubes requiring the drive systems of the capping and de-cappingunits to be remote from the capping and de-capping heads and disposedover a larger footprint than the rack because of their size.

EP 1882949 discloses a capping and de-capping apparatus having a testtube rack support for supporting a rack containing a plurality of cappedtest tubes in a given position. A head unit supports a two-dimensionalarray of capping and de-capping spindles, each of which includes aclutch and a capping and de-capping spigot or socket, the spindles beingaligned with the test tube positions defined in the rack. A drive systemmoves the tubes and the head unit relatively towards and away from oneanother in use, when a rack containing capped test tubes is disposed inthe rack support, causing engagement and disengagement of the spigots orsockets with and from the tube caps. A spindle drive system providessimultaneous rotation of the spigots or sockets together afterengagement with tube caps, either to attach caps to the tubes or detachcaps from the tubes. Ejection of the caps from the spigots is caused bymoving an external net in the opposite direction to the spindletranslational movement thereby detaching all sockets from all caps inone movement.

EP 13752860 discloses an apparatus for capping and de-capping test tubeshaving one or more capping and de-capping grippers equipped with acapping and de-capping socket unit wherein the one or more grippers eachare configured with an ejector pin moveably arranged within one or moregrippers, and wherein the ejector pin may perform a translationalmovement relative to the gripper effecting the release from the socketunit of a cap retained by the socket unit.

SUMMARY

It is an object to provide a capping and de-capping apparatus having anexchangeable gripper cartridge which will permit simple and quickexchange of an entire array of capping and de-capping grippers at onceinstance.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of theindependent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from thedependent claims, the description, and the figures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a capping and de-cappingapparatus for capping and de-capping tubes disposed in a tube holdingrack having a two-dimensional array of apertures for holding the tubes,the apparatus comprising a rack support for supporting the tube holdingrack, a head unit adapted for carrying a cartridge comprising at leastone capping and de-capping gripper, a drive system for moving the racksupport and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another,in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping andde-capping gripper with or from a cap of at least one tube, and a drivesystem for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotationin one direction causes attachment of the cap to the tube and rotationin the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap from the tube.

Different types of tube caps require different types of grippers,wherefore the grippers of an apparatus for capping and de-capping tubesmay need exchanging on a regular basis. An apparatus according to thesecond aspect facilitates simple and highly efficient exchange ofgrippers, since it is no longer needed to change the grippers one byone, instead all of the grippers are changed simultaneously whenchanging cartridge. Hence, the apparatus can be used far moreefficiently due to a significant reduction in downtime when changingbetween different grippers.

In a first possible implementation form of the first aspect, the headunit comprises a first attachment body and a second attachment body, thecartridge being attached to the second attachment body, facilitatingstable connection of the cartridge to the head unit and therefore givingthe cartridge as a reliable movement trajectory.

In a second possible implementation form of the first aspect, thecartridge is attached to and detached from the second attachment body bymeans of automated clamping means arranged on the second attachmentbody, facilitating use of the apparatus in an automated environment.

In a third possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus comprises at least one apparatus setup means.

In a fourth possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus setup means comprises a combination of switches arranged onthe head unit.

In a fifth possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus setup means comprises a microchip arranged on the cartridge.

In a sixth possible implementation form of the first aspect, the cappingand de-capping gripper has a through going passage extending along acenter axis of the capping and de-capping gripper, and wherein anejector pin is moveably arranged within the through going passage, theejector pin being configured to perform a translational movementrelative to the capping and de-capping gripper, thereby effecting arelease of a cap retained within the capping and de-capping gripper.

In a seventh possible implementation form of the first aspect, theejector pin is attached to the first attachment body.

In an eight possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus comprises a plurality of capping and de-capping grippers soconfigured that each capping and de-capping gripper may engage and/ordisengage a cap independently of the other grippers, making theapparatus highly flexible and versatile.

In a ninth possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus comprises a control unit configured to control the operationof the capping and de-capping grippers and/or the ejector pinsindependently from one another.

In a tenth possible implementation form of the first aspect, theapparatus comprises a user interface associated with the control unitand configured to permit a user to decide which capping and de-cappinggripper shall engage and/or disengage a tube configured to receiveand/or dispose of a cap placed within the rack.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of operating acapping and de-capping apparatus according to the above, the methodcomprising the steps of placing a cartridge onto a rack support, movinga head unit towards the cartridge and rack support by means of a drivesystem, attaching the cartridge to the head unit, moving the head unitand cartridge from the rack support by means of the drive system,placing a rack onto the rack support, moving the head unit and cartridgetowards the rack and rack support by means of the drive system, at leastone capping and de-capping gripper, attached to the cartridge, engagingan opposing cap on an opposing test tube placed in a rack on the racksupport, and disengaging the cap from the test tube by means ofconcerted movement of the drive system, moving the head unit away fromthe rack support, and a simultaneous rotational movement of the gripperunit, the rotational movement being caused by an actuator unit connectedto the capping and de-capping gripper, attaching a cap, by means ofreversing the above steps, the rotational movement being stopped when ameans for sensing a torque registers that a certain threshold torque isexceeded.

As previously mentioned, different types of tube caps require differenttypes of grippers, wherefore the grippers of an apparatus for cappingand de-capping tubes may need exchanging on a regular basis. A methodaccording to the third aspect facilitates simple and highly efficientexchange of grippers, since it is no longer needed to change thegrippers one by one, instead all of the grippers are changedsimultaneously when changing cartridge. Hence, the apparatus can be usedfar more efficiently due to a significant reduction in downtime whenchanging between different grippers.

In a first possible implementation form of the second aspect, the methodfurther comprises the step of activating apparatus setup means, therebyeffecting an apparatus setup tailored to the specific capping andde-capping grippers of the cartridge.

In a second possible implementation form of the second aspect, theactivating comprises the cartridge interacting with a combination ofswitches arranged on the head unit.

In a third possible implementation form of the second aspect, theactivating comprises a microchip arranged on the cartridge interactingwith a control unit of the apparatus.

In a fourth possible implementation form of the second aspect, themethod further comprises detaching the cartridge from the head unit bymeans of the steps of moving the head unit and cartridge towards therack support by means of a drive system such that the cartridge restsupon the rack support, detaching the cartridge from the head unit,moving the head unit from the cartridge and the rack support by means ofthe drive system.

In a fifth possible implementation form of the second aspect, thecartridge is attached to and detached from the head unit by means ofautomated clamping means.

In a sixth possible implementation form of the second aspect, the capsin contact with a capping and de-capping gripper, but not undergoing arotation by the actuator unit forming part of such a capping andde-capping gripper, are not removed from their respective test tubes.

In a seventh possible implementation form of the second aspect, themethod comprises the steps of releasing a capped tube from a capping andde-capping gripper by moving a first attachment body towards the racksupport such that an ejector pin comes into contact with the cap of thetube, disengaging the socket unit from the cap by moving a secondattachment body away from the tube, whereby the ejector pin remains incontact with the cap while the socket unit is disengaged from the cap,moving the first attachment body from the rack support, therebyreleasing the tube and freeing the capping and de-capping apparatus toperform a new cycle of capping and de-capping.

In an eight possible implementation form of the second aspect the firstand second attachment bodies are moved by means of a drive system, theuse of one drive system being a cost and space efficient solution.

These and other aspects will be apparent from the embodiments describedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, theaspects, embodiments, and implementations will be explained in moredetail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematical perspective view of a capping and de-cappingapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thecombination of the apparatus according to the present invention with anexternal control unit is exemplarily shown without this embodiment beingthereby considered preferred.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a cartridge according to a further embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to the embodimentshown in FIG. 3, as well as a rack support.

FIG. 5 shows a schematical perspective view of yet a further embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the capping and de-capping apparatus 100 according tothe invention is depicted in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, anexternal control unit 160 is shown for illustrative purposes. As isclear to the skilled person, the control unit 160 can be external to theapparatus 100 for some purposes or can be integrated into the apparatusfor other purposes. Further, the connection between the control unit 160and the apparatus 100 may be a cable as shown in the figure or could bea WIFI-signal or other like options depending on the skilled person'schoice, such choices being considered trivial in a modern laboratorysetting.

The capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is equipped with a rack support110 for supporting a tube rack 111, preferably a test tube rack, forcontaining in given position within the rack 111 at least one tube 112,preferably a test tube, fitted to receive and/or dispose of a cap 113,preferably a screw cap.

The capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is further equipped with a headunit 120 comprising first and second attachment bodies 151, 153. Thefirst attachment body 151 supports i.a. ejector pins 230. The secondattachment body 153 supports a cartridge 152 provided with atwo-dimensional array 121 (in the present exemplary embodiment a 6×8array, however, any suitable array is possible, e.g. 8×12) of cappingand de-capping grippers 122. Each capping and de-capping gripper 122includes a capping and de-capping socket unit 123 capable of engagingand retaining a cap, and the capping and de-capping grippers 122 arealigned with the tube positions within the rack 111.

The first and second attachment bodies 151, 153, the cartridge 152, thetube rack 111, and the rack support 110 all extend essentially inparallel with each other. Preferably, the plane of each of thesecomponents extends horizontally, when the apparatus is placed on a worksurface such as a table, the rack support 110 being the closest to thetable and the first attachment body 151 being the farthest, when seen inthe vertical direction.

The capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is also equipped with a drivesystem 130 for moving the rack support 110 and head unit 120 relativelytowards and away from one another in use, when a rack 111 containingtube 112 is disposed in the rack support 110, to cause engagement anddisengagement of the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 with andfrom the tube 112.

The capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is further equipped with adrive system 140 for rotating the capping and de-capping grippers 122,and the capping and de-capping socket units 123 attached thereto. Therotation of the capping and de-capping socket unit 123, after engagementof the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 with the cap 113, cancause either attachment of the cap 113 to the tube 112 within the rack111 when the capping and de-capping gripper 122 rotate in the onedirection or detachment of the cap 113 from the tube 112 when the atleast capping and de-capping gripper 122 rotates in the other direction.

Further, the capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is equipped with adrive system 150 internal to the head unit 120, permitting the firstattachment body 151 and the second attachment body 152 to perform amovement towards and away from each other independently of the movementof the head unit 120 when moved by the drive system 150.

Finally, the capping and de-capping apparatus 100 is further equippedwith a control unit 160, the control unit being preferably aprogrammable logic controller, a microprocessor, or a computerapplication, the control unit 160 being either internal or external tothe apparatus 100, for controlling the movement, both translational androtational, of the gripper units and ejector pins individually, insubgroups of the total array of gripper units and ejector pins, or thetotality of the gripper units and ejector pins and by providing a userinterface permitting the user to select which gripper or grippers withinthe array of grippers that shall engage a corresponding tube within therack. In a preferred embodiment the control unit 160 is equipped withmeans for measuring the torque associated with each rotating gripper,preferably by measuring the current supplied to the drive system 140needed to effectuate a continued rotation of the gripper, and means forterminating the rotation of the at least one gripper if a giventhreshold value is exceeded.

The above mentioned cartridge, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises anessentially rectangular tray 154 which is provided with atwo-dimensional array of through going holes 155, and each through goinghole 155 is adapted for receiving a capping and de-capping gripper 122.Two opposing edges of the tray 154, the front and the back edges, may beprovided with centred recesses making the depth of the cartridge smallerat the centre section than at the edge sections. By front is meant theedge which faces the user when the cartridge is arranged in theapparatus. The two remaining opposing edges of the tray, the side edges,are provided with first engagement means 156 adapted for attaching thecartridge 152 to the second attachment body 153 of the apparatus 100.The first engagement means 156 preferably comprise of through goingrecesses, and the head unit 120 is correspondingly provided withengagement means, such as automated clamping means arranged on thesecond attachment body 153 which interact with these recesses 156 suchthat the cartridge 152 can be locked to the second attachment body 153.The cartridge is locked to the second attachment body 153 such that eachcapping and de-capping gripper 122 is aligned with a tube aperture 114provided in a tube holding rack 111 inserted into the apparatus 100.This allows the capping and de-capping gripper 122 to engage and/ordisengage with a cap 113 of at least one tube 112 placed in the tubeholding rack 111.

The tray 154 further comprises second engagement means 157 arrangedalong the opposing tray edges. The second engagement means 157 arepreferably in the shape of elongate protrusions adapted for engagingwith corresponding means, such as elongate recesses, provided in a racksupport 110 supporting the tube holding rack 111. See FIG. 4.

The apparatus 100 further comprises at least one apparatus setup means,which may comprise either of a combination of switches arranged on thehead unit 120 or a microchip arranged on the cartridge 152. Activationof the apparatus setup means effects an apparatus setup which istailored to the specific capping and de-capping grippers 122 of thecartridge 152. The combination of switches interact with the cartridgewhen the cartridge is attached to the head unit 120. An embodimentcomprising a microchip interacts with the control unit 160. Theapparatus setup means may comprise data informing the apparatus of whichsetup is needed for a certain test tube, i.e. a certain capping andde-capping gripper 122, the data relating to torque, speed, pitch on thetread, etc.

The capping and de-capping grippers 122 are attached to the cartridge152, preferably in an easily releasable manner such as by means of a“nut and bolt” type solution. In such an embodiment, one end of thegripper 122 is provided with a threaded section, which is inserted, fromone side of the cartridge 152, through a through going hole 155, andthereafter locked to the cartridge 152 by means of a nut interactingwith the treaded section on the opposite side of the cartridge 152.

The nut comprises an interface for engaging with an actuator unit 240 ofthe head unit 120. In one embodiment, the interface comprises of a slotwhich extends between two opposing side sections of the nut and in thedirection of the center axis of the nut, providing the nut with anessentially U-shaped cross-section.

The cartridge may comprise several different capping and de-cappinggrippers 122, each gripper comprising a different socket unit 123.

Further, the cartridge 152 may be provided with an identifier whichidentifies the type of cartridge such as, but not limited to, a barcode, an RFID tag, or mechanical indicia. Further, the identifier maycomprise of a writeable electronic memory and a receiver/transmitter. Inthis embodiment the identifier may transmit data about the machine, thecartridge, and usage of the cartridge such as information on the numberof caps and/or de-caps that the cartridge 152 has made, which machinesthe cartridge 152 has been in, service logs for the cartridge 152, thetype of capping and de-capping grippers 122 present in the cartridge,etc.

The capping and de-capping gripper 122 comprises a capping andde-capping socket unit 123 capable of engaging and retaining a cap 113,the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 having a through goingpassage 211 extending along the center axis of the socket unit 123. Thegripper 122 further comprises an ejector pin guide also having a throughgoing passage 221, and an ejector pin 230. The socket unit 123 and theejector pin guide are so arranged to permit the ejector pin 230 toperform a translational movement within the socket unit 123 and theejector pin guide.

The ejector pin 230 is stationary with respect to the above mentionedfirst attachment body 151 for example because it is attached to thefirst attachment body 151. Likewise, the ejector pin guide is stationarywith respect to the second attachment body 152, for example because itis attached to the cartridge 152. Accordingly, upon the activation ofthe drive system 150, the translational movement of the ejector pin 230within the socket unit 123 and the ejector pin guide can be effectuated.

While it is possible for the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 andthe ejector pin guide to be manufactured in one piece, it is preferredthat they are not. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment the capping andde-capping socket 123 is attachable and detachable to the ejector pinguide such that when the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 isattached to the ejector pin guide, the ejector pin 230 may perform atranslational movement within the ejector pin guide attached to thecapping and de-capping socket unit 123.

The drive system 140 for rotating the ejector pins 230 comprises aplurality of actuator units 240, each actuator unit 240 comprising anactuator, preferably an electro motor, mechanically coupled to theejector pin 230. In a preferred embodiment of the actuator unit 240, theactuator is mechanically coupled to the ejector pin 230 by means of agear. Additionally, the drive system 140 may comprise internal orexternal means for sensing the torque on the ejector pin 230, e.g. ifthe actuator is an electro motor, by detecting a change in the currentsupplied to the actuator, and internal or external means for halting theactuator movement if a certain threshold torque is exceeded. Preferably,however, the means for sensing torque and the means for halting theactuator movement are associated with the control unit 160.

In this further embodiment wherein the ejector pin 230 is rotated by theactuator unit 240, the ejector pin 230 includes means for transferringthe rotational movement created by the actuator unit 240 to the ejectorpin guide or the capping and de-capping socket unit 123. In oneembodiment the means for transferring the rotational movement of theejector pin 230 to the ejector pin guide consists in a pin protrudingfrom the ejector pin 230 at a right angle and into a longitudinal groovein the ejector pin guide.

In a further embodiment the ejector pin guide further comprises meansfor attaching a capping and de-capping socket unit 123 to the ejectorpin guide. In a preferred embodiment the means for attaching a cappingand de-capping socket unit 123 further comprises a biasing means,preferably a coil spring.

In another embodiment the capping and de-capping socket unit 123 ispermanently attached to the ejector pin guide. It to be understood thatthe socket unit 123 is so conceived that the manner of which it engagesand disengages a cap is independent of how it attaches to the ejectorpin guide, and whether this attachment is permanent or not.

In operation, a cartridge 152 is placed onto the rack support 110, whichpreviously has been ejected, essentially horizontally, from its originalplacement within the main structure of the apparatus. The cartridge 152and rack support 110 are withdrawn back into the apparatus structure,where after the head unit 120 is moved towards the cartridge 152 andrack support 110 by means of the drive system 130. The cartridge isattached to the head unit 120, where after the head unit 120 andcartridge 152 are moved from the rack support 110 by means of the drivesystem 130. Subsequently, the rack support 110 is yet again ejected fromthe apparatus structure and the rack 111 is placed onto the rack support110. The head unit 120 is moved towards the rack 11 and rack support 110by the drive system 130. A capping and de-capping gripper 122 engagesthe opposing cap 113 on an opposing test tube 112, placed in a rack 111on the rack support 110, via the socket unit 123. Disengagement of thecap 113 from the test tube 112 is brought about by the concertedmovement of the drive system 130 moving the head unit 120 away from therack support 110 and a rotational movement of the actuator unit 240connected to the capping and de-capping gripper 122 in contact with thecap 113. Caps in contact with a capping and de-capping gripper 122 butnot undergoing a rotation by the actuator unit 240 forming part of sucha capping and de-capping gripper 122 are not removed from theirrespective test tubes 112.

The operation may comprise activating apparatus setup means, therebyeffecting an apparatus setup which is tailored to the specific cappingand de-capping grippers 122 of the cartridge 152. The activation isexecuted by either a combination of switches which interact with thecartridge when the cartridge is attached to the head unit 120, or amicrochip which interacts with the control unit 160.

Caps 113 in contact with a capping and de-capping gripper 122, but notundergoing a rotation by the actuator unit 240 forming part of such acapping and de-capping gripper 122, are not removed from theirrespective test tubes 112.

In order to attach a removed cap, the above procedure is reversed. Therotational movement of the capping and de-capping gripper 122, caused bythe actuator unit 240, is stopped when the means for sensing the torqueon the ejector pin registers that a certain threshold torque isexceeded. The tube 112, now having a cap, has its cap released from thesocket unit 123 by moving the first attachment body 151 in a directiontowards the rack support 110 and tube 112 such that the ejector pin 230comes into contact with the cap 113. Thereafter, the socket unit 123 isdisengaged from the cap 113 by moving the second attachment body 153 ina direction away from the rack support 110 and tube 112. This way, theejector pin 230 remains in contact with the cap 113 while the socketunit 123 is disengaged from the cap 113, thereby releasing the tube 112and freeing the capping and de-capping apparatus 100 to perform a newcycle of capping and de-capping. As previously mentioned, first andsecond attachment bodies 151, 153 are moved by means of the drive system150.

In yet another embodiment, the capping and de-capping apparatus 100 maycomprise an opto-electric device such as a light curtain 300, as shownin FIGS. 5 and 6. The light curtain comprises at least one transmitterand at least one receiver. The light curtain comprises either aplurality of parallel light beams 301, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or onecontinuous, reflected light beam being reflected back and forth acrossthe curtain surface. The light curtain 300 is arranged between thecartridge 152 and the rack 111, and the light beam(s) extend(s) in aplane which is parallel with the planes of the cartridge and the rack.The light curtain may be used to determine the height of the tubes 112that have been placed in the rack 111 and/or the presence of tubes 112in a rack 111 that has been placed in the apparatus. This data can beused to set the apparatus to move to the head unit 120 and/or the firstand second attachment bodies 151, 153 to the correct height for cappingand de-capping, and/or to alert the user to the absence of tubes 112 ina rack 111 or that the incorrect cartridge 152 is installed in theapparatus. Further, the light curtain may be used to detect the presenceof caps 113 in the socket units 123, to detect the presence or absenceof caps 113 on the tubes 112 in a rack 111, or to determine if a cap 113has fallen from a socket unit 123 or if a drop of a tube's 112 contentsdrips from a cap 113 during removal.

This embodiment comprises a capping and de-capping apparatus 100 forcapping and de-capping tubes 112 disposed in a tube holding rack 111having a two-dimensional array of apertures 114 for holding said tubes,the apparatus 100 comprising a rack support 110 for supporting the tubeholding rack 111, a head unit 120 carrying at least one capping andde-capping gripper 122, a drive system 130 for moving the rack support110 and the head unit 120 relatively towards and away from one another,in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping andde-capping gripper 122 with or from a cap 113 of at least one tube 112,and a drive system 140 for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper122, wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap 113to the tube and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment ofthe cap 113 from the tube, and an opto-electronic device arrangedbetween the head unit 120 and the tube holding rack 111. Theopto-electronic device may comprise a light curtain. The light curtainmay comprise at least one light beam extending in a plane parallel tothe head unit 120 and the tube holding rack 111.

The various aspects and implementations has been described inconjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variationsto the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by thoseskilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from astudy of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In theclaims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps,and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Asingle processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of severalitems recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures arerecited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that acombination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed aslimiting the scope.

1. A capping and de-capping apparatus for capping and de-capping tubesdisposed in a tube holding rack having a two-dimensional array ofapertures for holding said tubes, said apparatus comprising: a racksupport for supporting said tube holding rack, a head unit adapted forcarrying a cartridge comprising at least one capping and de-cappinggripper, a drive system for moving said rack support and said head unitrelatively towards and away from one another, in order to causeengagement or disengagement of said capping and de-capping gripper withor from a cap of at least one tube, and a drive system for rotating saidcapping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotation in one direction causesattachment of said cap to said tube and rotation in the oppositedirection causes detachment of said cap from said tube.
 2. A capping andde-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head unitcomprises a first attachment body and a second attachment body, saidcartridge being attached to said second attachment body.
 3. A cappingand de-capping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cartridge isattached to and detached from said second attachment body by means ofautomated clamping means arranged on second first attachment body.
 4. Acapping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidapparatus comprises at least one apparatus setup means.
 5. A capping andde-capping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus setupmeans comprises a combination of switches arranged on said head unit. 6.A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 4, wherein saidapparatus setup means comprises a microchip arranged on said cartridge.7. A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidcapping and de-capping gripper (122) has a through going passageextending along a center axis of the capping and de-capping gripper, andwherein an ejector pin is moveably arranged within said through goingpassage, said ejector pin being configured to perform a translationalmovement relative to said capping and de-capping gripper, therebyeffecting a release of a cap retained within said capping and de-cappinggripper.
 8. A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 7,wherein said ejector pin is attached to said first attachment body.
 9. Acapping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, comprising aplurality of capping and de-capping grippers so configured that eachcapping and de-capping gripper may engage and/or disengage a capindependently of the other grippers.
 10. A capping and de-cappingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprisesa control unit configured to control the operation of said capping andde-capping grippers and/or said ejector pins independently from oneanother.
 11. A capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 10,further comprising a user interface associated with said control unitand configured to permit a user to decide which capping and de-cappinggripper shall engage and/or disengage a tube configured to receiveand/or dispose of a cap placed within said rack.
 12. A method ofoperating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 1, saidmethod comprising the steps of: placing a cartridge onto a rack support,moving a head unit towards said cartridge and rack support by means of adrive system, attaching said cartridge to said head unit, moving saidhead unit and cartridge from said rack support by means of said drivesystem, placing a rack onto said rack support, moving said head unit andcartridge towards said rack and rack support by means of said drivesystem, at least one capping and de-capping gripper, attached to saidcartridge, engaging an opposing cap on an opposing test tube placed in arack on said rack support, and disengaging said cap from said test tubeby means of concerted movement of said drive system, moving said headunit away from said rack support, and a simultaneous rotational movementof said gripper unit, said rotational movement being caused by anactuator unit connected to said capping and de-capping gripper,attaching a cap, by means of reversing the above steps, said rotationalmovement being stopped when a means for sensing a torque registers thata certain threshold torque is exceeded.
 13. A method of operating acapping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12, furthercomprising the step of: activating apparatus setup means, therebyeffecting an apparatus setup tailored to the specific capping andde-capping grippers of said cartridge.
 14. A method of operating acapping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 13, whereinactivating comprises said cartridge interacting with a combination ofswitches arranged on said head unit.
 15. A method of operating a cappingand de-capping apparatus according to claim 13, wherein activatingcomprises a microchip arranged on said cartridge interacting with acontrol unit of said apparatus.
 16. A method of operating a capping andde-capping apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising detachingsaid cartridge from said head unit by means of the steps of: moving saidhead unit and cartridge towards said rack support by means of a drivesystem such that said cartridge rests upon said rack support, detachingsaid cartridge from said head unit, moving said head unit from saidcartridge and said rack support by means of said drive system.
 17. Amethod of operating a capping and de-capping apparatus according toclaim 16, wherein said cartridge is attached to and detached from saidhead unit by means of automated clamping means.
 18. A method ofoperating a capping and de-capping apparatus according to claim 12,wherein caps in contact with a capping and de-capping gripper, but notundergoing a rotation by the actuator unit forming part of such acapping and de-capping gripper, are not removed from their respectivetest tubes.
 19. A method of operating a capping and de-capping apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: releasing acapped tube from a capping and de-capping gripper by moving a firstattachment body towards said rack support such that an ejector pin comesinto contact with the cap of said tube, disengaging said socket unitfrom said cap by moving a second attachment body away from said tube,whereby said ejector pin remains in contact with said cap while saidsocket unit is disengaged from said cap, moving said first attachmentbody from said rack support, thereby releasing said tube and freeingsaid capping and de-capping apparatus to perform a new cycle of cappingand de-capping.
 20. A method of operating a capping and de-cappingapparatus according to claim 19, wherein said first and secondattachment bodies are moved by means of a drive system.